Balance ER/Reverb slider: Controls the balance between the early reflections and reverb signal. When the slider is set to either extreme position, the other signal is not heard.

Mix slider and field: Determines the balance between the effect (wet) and direct (dry) signals.

GoldVerb Early Reflections Parameters

The GoldVerb offers the following Early Reflections parameters:

Predelay slider and field: Determines the amount of time between the start of the original signal and the arrival of the early reflections. Extremely short Predelay settings can color the sound and make it difficult to pinpoint the position of the signal source. Overly long Predelay settings can be perceived as an unnatural echo and can divorce the original signal from its early reflections, leaving an audible gap between them.

The optimum Predelay setting depends on the type of input signal—or more precisely, the envelope of the input signal. Percussive signals generally require shorter predelays than signals where the attack fades in gradually. A good working method is to use the longest possible Predelay value before you start to hear undesirable side effects, such as an audible echo. When you reach this point, reduce the Predelay setting slightly.

Room Shape slider and field: Defines the geometric form of the room. The numeric value (3 to 7) represents the number of corners in the room. The graphic display visually represents this setting.

Room Size slider and field: Determines the dimensions of the room. The numeric value indicates the length of the room’s walls—the distance between two corners.

Stereo Base slider and field: Defines the distance between the two virtual microphones that are used to capture the signal in the simulated room.

Note: Spacing the microphones slightly farther apart than the distance between two human ears generally delivers the best, and most realistic, results. This parameter is available only in stereo instances of the effect.

GoldVerb Reverb Parameters

The GoldVerb offers the following Reverb parameters:

Initial Delay slider and field: Sets the time between the original signal and the diffuse reverb tail. If you’re going for a natural-sounding, harmonic reverb, the transition between the early reflections and the reverb tail should be as smooth and seamless as possible. Set the Initial Delay parameter so that it is as long as possible, without a noticeable gap between the early reflections and the reverb tail.

Spread slider and field: Controls the stereo image of the reverb. At 0%, the effect generates a monaural reverb. At 200%, the stereo base is artificially expanded.

High Cut knob and field: Frequencies above the set value are filtered from the reverb signal. Uneven or absorbent surfaces—wallpaper, wood paneling, carpets, and so on–tend to reflect lower frequencies better than higher frequencies. The High Cut filter mimics this effect. If you set the High Cut filter so that it is wide open (maximum value), the reverb will sound as if it is reflecting off stone or glass.

Density knob and field: Controls the density of the diffuse reverb tail. Ordinarily you want the signal to be as dense as possible. In rare instances, however, a high Density value can color the sound, which you can fix by reducing the Density knob value. Conversely, if you select a Density value that is too low, the reverb tail will sound grainy.

Reverb Time knob and field: Time it takes for the reverb level to drop by 60 dB—often indicated as RT60. Most natural rooms have a reverb time somewhere in the range of 1 to 3 seconds. This time is reduced by absorbent surfaces, such as carpet and curtains, and soft or dense furnishings, such as sofas, armchairs, cupboards, and tables. Large empty halls or churches have reverb times of up to 8 seconds, with some cavernous or cathedral-like venues extending beyond that.

Diffusion slider and field (Extended Parameters area): Sets the diffusion of the reverb tail. High Diffusion values represent a regular density, with few alterations in level, times, and panorama position over the course of the diffuse reverb signal. Low Diffusion values result in the reflection density becoming irregular and grainy. This also affects the stereo spectrum. As with Density, find the best balance for the signal.